Revision of Minimum Rates of Wages for Employment in Forestry under the Minimum Wages Act
The Labour and Employment Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, issued G.O. (2D) No. 43, Labour and Employment (J-1), dated 1st August 2013, revising minimum wages for specified forestry employees across Tamil Nadu. The notification took effect from its publication in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette and superseded Labour and Employment Department Notification No. II(2)/LE/68/2003 dated 29th January 2003.
What the notification governs
The Labour and Employment Department notification fixes minimum basic wages for listed classes of employees working in forestry in Tamil Nadu. It was issued after consultation with the Advisory Board and took effect from the date of publication in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.
The wage requirements concern forestry employment and the listed worker categories. They do not set out requirements for land purchase, ownership or registration.
Daily minimum wages
The schedule sets the following basic daily wages:
- Nursery Mazdoor or Nursery Worker, Plot Mazdoor or Plot Watcher, Fire Patrol Watcher, and Sandal Wood Protection or Roaming Watcher: Rs. 122 per day.
- Daily wage Mazdoors, Grade I: Rs. 132 per day.
- Daily wage Mazdoors, Grade II: Rs. 128 per day.
- Daily wage Mazdoors, Grade III: Rs. 122 per day.
- Sandal Wood Depot Mazdoor, Class I for final cleaning: Rs. 132 per day.
- Sandal Wood Depot Mazdoor, Class II for rough cleaning: Rs. 128 per day.
- Sandal Wood Depot Mazdoor, Class III for other work: Rs. 122 per day.
Grade I covers Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram, The Nilgiris and Tirunelveli districts. Grade II covers Salem, Coimbatore and Madurai districts. Grade III covers other districts.
Output based wages
The forestry wage schedule also fixes rates for particular operations:
- Wattle bark peeling: Rs. 1,707 per metric tonne.
- Wattle loading: Rs. 510 per metric tonne.
- Cutting and stacking wattle bark: Rs. 393 per stack of 3 cubic metres.
- Blue Gum cutting and stacking: Rs. 357 per stack of 3 cubic metres.
Dearness allowance and worker protections
The notified wages are linked to the Average Chennai City Consumer Price Index for 2000, stated as 475 points on the 1982 base of 100. For every point above 475, employees must receive an additional 25 paise per day as dearness allowance.
Dearness allowance is calculated on the first April each year using the average indices from the preceding January to December. The notification also provides that:
- Men and women must receive the same wages where the nature of their work is the same.
- Daily wages and dearness allowance include weekly holiday wages.
- Existing wages higher than these minimum rates must continue to be paid.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
When did the revised forestry minimum wages take effect?
The revised rates took effect from the date the notification was published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, 1st August 2013.
Can an employer reduce an existing forestry worker's higher wage to these minimum rates?
No. Where existing wages are higher than the minimum rates fixed by the notification, the higher wages must continue to be paid.
Must men and women doing the same forestry work receive equal wages?
Yes. The notification states that no distinction in wages may be made between men and women where the nature of the work is the same.
Does the daily wage include payment for the weekly holiday?
Yes. The daily wage and dearness allowance include the weekly holiday wage element.
